Chapter 52
After taking Leonardo back to the detention facility, Hugo headed straight to the conference room.
As he opened the door and entered the conference room, the battalion commanders and unit commanders of the Council's Central Branch, their adjutants and middle managers, administrative officials, and lastly, Deputy Commander Shorendo were already gathered inside. Although not everyone was present as some were on external missions, this was quite a large gathering for a change with this number of people.
As those seated tried to stand up to greet him, Hugo lightly raised his hand to stop them. Then, sitting at the head of the table, he opened his mouth.
"Everyone's here. Sorry for being late."
"I heard you were playing the role of a babysitter, so is that why you're late?"
At Meterion's words that cut through the silence, the atmosphere turned sour. Hugo only glanced in that direction without answering. Instead, Venum Thesaurus, the 8th Battalion Commander, snickered and said to Meterion,
"Clinder, you can't even do that babysitting job, can you?"
As Meterion glared at Venum due to his words, Loren Opience, who was sitting with her arms crossed, slammed her fist on the conference room desk. At the loud sound, everyone's attention focused on her, and Loren sent a chilly gaze at the two of them, warning,
"Refrain from unnecessary remarks."
Venum raised his hands to the sides, silently claiming that he was not at fault. As the conference room quieted down after Loren's words, Hugo nodded at her.
"Thank you, Loren."
Soon, Hugo slowly looked around at the attendees and opened his mouth about the main topic of today's meeting.
"As we always do, let's first proceed with the monthly report, and then hold a meeting regarding the most important agenda item today, the personnel for the expedition to the Elder Millie Peninsula. Since we've gathered during a busy period, I ask for everyone's cooperation to finish quickly."
"Yes, understood-."
The personnel inside the conference room all answered in a loud voice.
Afterward, the adjutants and middle managers of each battalion came out one by one and began briefing on the current missions and various issues. Although there were separate recording officers to take the minutes of the meeting, Hugo picked up a pen and jotted down the meeting contents briefly on paper.
"We are currently investigating the causal relationship of the indiscriminate assassination incidents targeting nobles that have recently occurred."
"There have been successive embezzlements in the military supply procurement companies supplying the three institutions..."
"Kidnapping incidents are occurring in the central-southern region, so we are investigating the possibility of slave trade or human trafficking..."
"Monsters are swarming in the plains starting from the central-western region, resulting in numerous civilian casualties..."
"We are investigating cases of tail-cutting trade contracts between the Delberg Merchant Group and other merchant groups..."
"During the process of identifying evidence items and suppressing reactionary forces, some unit members were injured..."
"Discussion is needed on strengthening the barrier after the closure of the large square in the north of the Imperial Capital..."
"Special crackdown on overcharging for securing the venue and arranging nearby accommodations for the League main tournament..."
"...So the construction of the League preliminary match stadium is expected to be delayed by about a month compared to the original plan."
At the last middle manager's briefing, Hugo narrowed his brows and asked back,
"Is there a possibility of further delay?"
"We have set a generous period in the negotiation with the construction company, so there is no possibility of further delay."
"I think you said the same thing before."
At Hugo's chilly question, the middle manager who was briefing froze and gulped. Hugo made a checkmark on the paper and continued,
"It seems there is a need to conduct the performance management more tightly. Prepare a detailed schedule coordination and report again after getting it confirmed through the administrative official."
"Yes, I understand..."
The middle manager, who was inevitably going to work overtime, answered weakly and returned to his seat, sighing secretly without anyone knowing.
Hugo quickly scanned the contents he had written on the paper with his eyes. It was so busy that he wondered if it was right to go to the peninsula at this time. Since three battalions from the Southern Branch had already entered, the Central Branch would need to send at least two battalions to match, but there was a severe shortage of manpower.
While briefly organizing his thoughts and pondering, Hugo raised his head and said to the meeting members,
"If anyone has additional remarks, please speak."
At that moment, Loren raised her hand. Hugo gestured with his chin as if telling her to speak.
"Considering that the League will be held in about three months, I think we need to start area control and crime crackdown in earnest now. So, instead of separating the kidnapping cases occurring mainly in the central-southern region, I think it would be more efficient for both sides to increase patrol personnel for security reinforcement and form more investigation teams to start."
As soon as Loren finished speaking, the unit commander of the 10th Battalion also raised his hand and continued,
"As the weather in the central region has been getting warmer these days, the number of monster appearances has been increasing exponentially. Currently, some platoons belonging to the 10th Battalion are out for subjugation, but there is a severe shortage of personnel. I think we need to recruit by offering rewards for subjugation and borrowing the power of mercenaries or guilds."
At that, Shorendo raised his hand and added,
"During the last subjugation in the Claria Mountain Range, the planning and coordination office excluded the mercenary management personnel altogether and had a hard time organizing the troops. I think additional consideration is needed for that."
Hugo nodded and looked around, asking,
"Any other matters?"
The conference room fell silent as if there was no one else to speak. Seeing that, Hugo lightly summarized,
"Regarding the distribution of troops, let's hold another meeting centered on Shorendo once the plan is prepared. Let's end the monthly report here, and since we don't have time, let's move on to the peninsula issue right away."
"The Elder Millie Peninsula is a hot and humid volcanic zone, a large-scale volcanic island with over 2,000 large and small peaks that became a peninsula when the ground was uplifted and magma flowed into the inland. Although 95% are dormant volcanoes, the remaining 5% of active volcanoes include all the large-scale peaks with high altitudes."
"The territory closest to the peninsula is Fidele Territory, and recently, the appearance of monsters has increased excessively, so all the residents near the border zone have been relocated to the central part of the territory."
Two analysts first conducted a briefing on the overall terrain and environment of the Elder Millie Peninsula.
The content that the personnel gathered here had to decide at the meeting was to determine the battalions to go on the expedition and the overall deployment period and personnel.
"As you've heard, the Elder Millie Peninsula is a volcanic zone. Moreover, the internal environment is not well known. The order from the higher-ups is subjugation, but since there are many rare minerals and resources, we will also need an exploration team to conduct intermediate exploration and personnel to escort them."
As soon as the analysts' briefing ended, Hugo was the first to speak.
"In my opinion, even excluding some companies in charge of major tasks, I think we need to mobilize at least two battalions, including the battalion commanders. I'd like you to freely express your opinions."
At Hugo's words, Mare Magnus, the 10th Battalion Commander, asked back with a rather negative nuance.
"My thoughts are a bit different. Isn't two battalions too many?"
Hugo nodded as if telling him to speak.
"Let's hear the reason."
"The Elder Millie Peninsula has been postponed all this time, and the higher-ups suddenly brought it up. We don't know how long it will take, and since the southern troops are already stationed there, wouldn't it be better to go quickly with a small number of personnel?"
At that moment, Deputy Commander Shorendo intervened.
"It's true that the southern troops are stationed there, but there has been little progress, and they lack the troops to deploy more, so they requested support from the central region. When I went for an inspection, the buildings of the Southern Branch were also empty because many unit members had gone out."
He turned his gaze back to the attendees and continued,
"When the peninsula is divided into four regions in the east, west, south, and north directions, the closest to Fidele Territory is the north. However, the problem is that it's no exaggeration to say that half of the current troops are only defending there. We need to quickly enter the core area inside, but we can't even set foot."
"..."
"Meanwhile, all the rugged peaks identified as monster nests are in the south. The north is just the entrance. Having more personnel doesn't necessarily make subjugation easy, but I don't think it's a matter that can be resolved by a small number of personnel."
After hearing Shorendo's words, Mare hesitated for a moment and then spoke firmly again.
"The 10th Battalion has almost no personnel available for mobilization. Just the monsters in the central-western plains are a headache..."
At that, Andreas Frederick, the 4th Battalion Commander, refuted.
"Hey, Battalion Commander Magnus. If you put it that way, where is there any spare manpower here? Everyone is putting aside what they were in charge of a little and going out. If the 10th Battalion were in the position of going on the expedition, would you still say that?"
"What do you mean, Frederick?"
"What I'm saying is, could you say the same thing if your own battalion were to go to Elder Millie? If the 10th Battalion alone is sent to Elder Millie from the central region, wouldn't it be awkward?"
At Andreas's words, Mare retorted, looking a bit offended.
"Are you saying that I'm speaking recklessly because I think our battalion won't go from the beginning? Rather, Frederick, aren't you speaking easily because it's already a foregone conclusion that the 4th Battalion is excluded due to your injured arm?"
"Why is the conversation going that way again? When did I say that?"
As Andreas spoke with a bitter smile, Noel Presentia, the 11th Battalion Commander, mediated between the two.
"Mare, you shouldn't say that when Andre didn't injure his arm on purpose. And Andre, even if you didn't mean it that way, it was a situation where Mare could sufficiently feel upset given the circumstances. If you don't want to pick a fight, restrain yourself."
"I understand."
Although Andreas seemed to want to say more, he closed his mouth as if agreeing with Noel's words. As the atmosphere that had almost turned sour seemed to be resolved, Noel made one more remark.
"I also think it's unreasonable to send all two battalions. Wouldn't it be better to split them into company-scale units and send them? Considering calling for support later."
However, the one who poured oil on the dying fire again was Venum Thesaurus, the 8th Battalion Commander.
"What if there's no personnel available for immediate dispatch when calling for support? Are you going to request the Western Branch? And hunting monsters in the central-western plains would be even busier for them than the 10th Battalion, right? Just say it outright. That you don't want to go."
"When did I say I don't want to go?"
Mare flared up at Venum's words. Venum snickered and looked around, then continued,
"Everyone, speak honestly. Why are you being more confrontational than usual? Is it simply because the place you have to go is the Elder Millie Peninsula? No, actually, you're afraid of that guy, aren't you?"